It is fantastic to have my work on Pesky People recognised in this way and more so as a Deaf person. I’m told it was a tough competition.

I had to apply, then was interviewed by the Award Judges Tanya Heasman (Director of System Concepts) and Vaughan Lindsay (Trustee of SMK and Cheif Executive of Dartington Hall Trust).

SMK Awards took place on Tuesday 21st Sept 2010 – also the same day as #a11yLDN Web Accessibility Unconference that I was taking part in.

Hosted by Jon Snow journalist and presenter of Channel 4 News at St Martin’s Crypt. Jon is also a Patron of SMK Foundation along with the Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP.

The Consumer Action Award was announced by Lynn Faulds-Wood who many will recognise as being one of the TV presenters of BBC Watchdog – I even got a mention from Lynn ‘where’s Alison from Pesky People?’. They booked the sign language interpreter Rhys from Clarion so that was a big relief (he was hiding in the corner of the room and not on stage throughout)!

The awards are named in memory of Dame Sheila McKechnie (a fellow Scot) who was a feareless campaigner and was known for her key part she played as Director of Shelter and Chief Executive of Which? Sheila was renowned for being ‘a thorn in the side of Conservative governments‘.